Cattle restraining device



y 0, 1956 A. E. THORSON CATTLE RESTRAINING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1952 Alvin E. Thorson INVENTOR 9 BY Mb y 956 A. E. THORSON 2 753 2 CATTLE RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AH m f 3 I Fig.3.

IN V EN TOR.

I2 BY Unite Patented July 10, 1956 CATTLE RESTRAINING DEVICE Alvin E. Thorson, Corvallis, Mont.

Application January 3, 1952, Serial No. 264,752

2 Claims. (Cl. 119-103) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in cattle restraining devices, commonly known as cattle chutes, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate convenient restraining of cattle against movement while the same are being dehorned, branded, or surgically treated.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a chute member which is tiltable from a substantially upright position to a substantially horizontal position wherein it affords a work table, so to speak, for treating animals.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction and in its efiicient and dependable operation.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention in its initial position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof in its 2 operating position;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the device, this view being taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the device taken in the direction of the arrow 4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail of an adjustable rack mechanism used in the invention, this view being taken substantially in the plane of the line 55 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6-6 in Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 7-7 in Figure 3.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a cattle restraining device which is designated generally by the reference character 10 and embodies in its construction a base 12 which is provided adjacent one edge thereof with an upwardly extending, stationary chute member 14, preferably consisting of a plurality of stringers 16 having planks 18 afiixed thereto, the chute member 14 being supported in an inclined position by braces 20, as shown.

A coacting chute member 22, similar in construction to the member 14, is carried by a pair of rocker units 24, these preferably being fabricated from strap iron and including straight portions 26 and arcuate portions 28. Each rocker unit is suitably braced as at 30 and the two rocker units are adapted for a rolling movement, so to speak, on the base 12 between a pair of rails 32. These rails are provided with notches 34 while laterally projecting pins 36 are provided on the rocker units so that they may be received in the notches 34 when the '2 rocker units, together with the associated chute member 22, are tilted from an initial upstanding position as shown in Figure 1 to an operating position shown in Figure 2, wherein the chute member 22 is disposed horizontally in vertically spaced relation from the base 12. Thus, the rocker units have what could be called a rolling contact with the base and the pins 36, receivable in the notches 34, prevent the rocker units and the associated chute member 22 from sliding toward or away from the stationary chute member 14.

An animal receiving floor board or platform 40 is rigidly secured to the lower edge of the chute member 22 and the means for clamping an animal in position on the member 22 comprise a clamping frame 42 which is pivoted to the platform 40 as at 44 and is swingable toward and away from the member 22.

The clamp member 42 is provided with a convex portion 46 to accommodate the animals abdomen, and when the device is in the position shown in Figure l, the convex portions 46 project through suitable recesses or slots '48 in the stationary chute member 14.

The clamp member 42 is also provided with a bar 50 carrying an angulated catch 52 which is engageable by a slidable latch 54 on the chute member 14. The latch 54 is spring pressed and is controlled by a suitable lever 56, as will be clearly apparent from Figure 3.

The bar or rod 50 of the clamp member 42 has also connected thereto one end of a toothed rack 58 which extends through a recess '60 in the chute member 22 and the teeth thereof are engageable selectively with a catch 62. The rack 58 is provided with a handle 64 and it will be apparent from the foregoing that when the device is in the position shown in Figure 1, an animal may be admitted into the space between the chute members 14, 22 while the catch '52 engages the latch 54. Then, with the catch disengaged and' the chute member '22 stationary the clamp member -46'Will be brought toward the chute member 22 to firmly secure the animal between the clamp member 46 and the chute member 22. Subsequently, by pulling the handle 64 of the rack 58 outwardly, the chute member 22, the rocker units 24, the animal clamp member 46 as well as the animal itself may be tilted to a substantially horizontal operating position as shown in Figure 2.

An arcuate member 66 may be provided on the chute member 22 to engage the animals neck, the member 66 being swingably mounted and the movement thereof being adjustable by means of pivoted linkage 68, 70 which is operatively connected to a lever 72 having a locking detent (not shown) engageable with a toothed sector 74 on the member 72.

In addition, a keeper arm 76 may be provided on the chute member 22 to engage the animals rear leg or legs.

Referring again to the neck engaging member 66, it is to be noted that this is adjustably pivoted to the chute member 22 by means of a pin 78 (see Figure 6) which is receivable selectively in a set of apertures 80 provided in angles 82 carried by the chute member 22. In effect, the link 68 constitutes an integral continuation of the neck engaging member 66, the same projecting through a slot 84 in the chute member 22, as shown.

A gate 86 may be provided at one end of the apparatus to close the space or passage between the chute members 14, 22, this gate being adjustably pivoted as at 88 to a bracket 90 on the base 12 and the gate being swingable from an open position shown in Figure 2 to a closed position shown in Figure 1 wherein a handle 92, forming a part of the gate, is engaged with a catch 94 on the chute member 22. In its open position the gate is sustained by a hook shaped catch 96 on the stationary chute member 14.

Finally, a bracket 98 may be aflixed to the chute member 22 to sustain the animals head, if so desired.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a cattle restraining device, the combination of a base, a stationary chute member extending upwardly from said base, a coacting chute member rising upwardly from said base in an upstanding spaced relation from the stationary member, a supporting rocker secured to said coacting member on one side thereof and engaging said base and tiltable on said base whereby the coacting member may be swung from its position spaced from said stationary member to a substantially horizontal operating position spaced upwardly from the base, a platform provided adjacent the lower edge of said coacting member on the opposite side of said coacting member from said rocker, an animal clamping member pivoted at one end to said platform and movable toward and away from the coacting member, a mechanism pivotally attached to said coacting member for adjustably locking said clamping members in an adjusted position relative to said coacting member, said mechanism including a toothed rack, a catch on said coacting member engageable with said toothed rack to hold said toothed rack in an adjusted position with respect to said coacting mechanism engageable with a latch on said stationary member to lock said coacting member to said stationary member in the position spaced from said stationary member.

2. In a cattle restraining device, the combination of a base, a stationary chute member extending upwardly from said base, a coacting chute member rising upwardly from said base in an upstanding spaced relation from the stationary member, a supporting rocker secured to said coacting member on one side thereof and engaging said base and tiltable on said base whereby the coacting member may be swung from its position spaced from said stationary member to a substantially horizontal operating position spaced upwardly from the base, a platform provided adjacent the lower edge of said coacting member on the opposite side of said coacting member from said rocker, an animal clamping member pivoted at one end to said platform and movable toward 'and away from the coacting member, a mechanism pivotally attached to said coacting member for adjustably locking said clamping members in an adjusted position relative to said coacting member, said mechanism including a toothed rack, a catch on said coacting member engageable with said toothed rack to hold said toothed rack in an adjusted position with respect to said coacting mechanism engageable with a latch on said stationary member to lock said coacting member to said stationary member in the position spaced from said stationary member, an arcuate member for engaging the neck of an animal, means adjustably pivotally securing said arcuate member to said coacting member including angle mounting plates secured to said coacting member having sets of aligned apertures therethrough, a pin attached to said arcuate member selectively engageable in said apertures, and locking means including a toothed sector on said coacting member for holding said arcuate member in an adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 572,792 Gates Dec. 8, 1896 2,458,582 Flohr Jan. 11, 1949 2,518,146 Johnson et al. Aug. 8, 1950 2,566,013 Abernathy Aug. 28, 1951 2,581,735 Turner Jan. 8, 1952 

